Celebrate the Holy Eucharist

We assemble on the Lord’s Day to celebrate the Holy Eucharist which recalls the Paschal Mystery of the Lord’s suffering, death and resurrection. For it was on this day, the first day of the week, that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead vanquishing the forces of darkness and bringing salvation to those who hope in Him. In the Responsorial Psalm for the liturgy we sing,”
Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.”

Yes, there is much to proclaim and proclaim we must. The mission of the Church has always been the proclamation of the Gospel in accordance with the Lord Jesus’ command to His Apostles. This work of proclamation is shared by all the members of Christ’s mystical body, the Church. In today’s second lection taken from the First Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians we are reminded that we share in various ministries which the Lord has manifested to the Church, each one significant and dependent upon the other. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are all valuable and need one another in bearing Christian witness to the world.

The Gospel reading for this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time is taken from the Evangelist John and tells us about the Lord Jesus’ first miracle which had taken place at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. After seeing this glorious wonder the Apostles began to believe in Jesus and it was this event and so many others that they proclaimed to the nations following His holy resurrection. As I wrote in my previous pastor’s article, the miracle at the wedding in Cana is one of the manifestations celebrated in the Feast of the Epiphany and so, in a sense Christmas continues.

Here in Rockaway we will follow a tradition which is still observed at the Vatican, our outdoor Nativity Crèche will remain until February 2nd. This is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple and the 40th day (and final day) of Christmas. Although our crèche and trees have been removed in the church, we will continue to have the Christmas flowers present until February 2nd.

Friday marks another tragic anniversary in our nation, which is the Roe v Wade decision which allowed for the killing of babies in the womb. Abortion has always been repulsive to the followers of Jesus. Even in the Roman Empire of the first century Christians witnessed to the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death AND WE ARE STILL DOING IT TODAY! I am grateful to those who will travel to Washington, DC on Friday to participate in the Right to Life March. Your presence there along with those of thousands of others will be a witness for the nation that life is a gift from God which must be protected and cherished.

On Thursday Father Marcin celebrates his birthday. We wish him God’s many blessings - STO LAT!